How Ohio State's 2025 student ticket price compares with the rest of the Big Ten
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State University approved a price increase for student football tickets for the 2025-2026 season. How do the Buckeyes compare with other Big Ten schools?
For the 2025-2026 season, student tickets will increase from $36 for nonconference games and $38 for conference games to $44 per game. A full-season package would cost $308 for all seven home games, and students also have the opportunity to just buy tickets to the four Big Ten home games for $176.
Ohio State's Board of Trustees met Wednesday morning and approved a variety of changes, including updates to the Carmenton innovation district, personnel appointments and the $6-8 increase in student ticket pricing. The change is Ohio State's second student ticket price increase since 2013, with the first increasing prices from $34 per game for the 2024 season, which at the time were expected to stay consistent through 2026.
This places Ohio State as the most expensive among the Big Ten, although Ohio State is the first university to set its 2025-2026 student ticket pricing. In 2024, Ohio State was the most expensive season ticket in the Big Ten for students, with eight home games and $16 in fees racking up a $346 price tag for students this year. Ohio State will only play seven home games next season, so a season package will cost more per game but less overall.
In 2024, other Big Ten student ticket packages ranged from $99 at Rutgers and Illinois to $275 at Southern California. Season tickets for Maryland students were free upon request, and Northwestern students also paid no additional charge to attend games. Ohio State cashed out at nearly $75 more than the second most expensive ticket, although Purdue did not publish its student ticket pricing.
Different universities have different programs for student tickets, with some combining football and basketball tickets into one pass. On average in 2024, a student season ticket pass for Big Ten football was $166.85.
Ohio State is the most profitable Big Ten school, according to March data from the NCAA, and athletic director Ross Bjork said profits are above where they need to be in an Athletic Committee meeting on Monday. When making the decision, trustees were also asked to consider Ohio State athletics' status as one of collegiate sports only self-sufficient athletic programs.
Ohio State's 2025-2026 schedule includes the home opener Aug. 30 against Texas and Big Ten home games against Penn State and UCLA.